2011-12 NCAA Women’s Basketball RULE INTERPRETATIONS As of 1/12/12 Prepared by Debbie Williamson, Women’s Secretary-Rules Editor 1/12/12 Resumption of Play Warning (Rule 4-57.2) If a team is not ready to play at the second horn during a timeout, officials are instructed to formally warn that team on the first offense. On the second and subsequent offenses, the official shall make the ball ready for play (e.g., put the ball on the floor and begin the count). In the 2011-12 Rules Changes and Intent November posting, the statement was made that, “this rules change applies to instances following a timeout only. At any other point in the game (except to begin the second period), the Resumption of Play procedure shall be used.” In summary, when an official is ready to resume play for a throw-in or free-throw that does not follow a timeout, no warning is needed before placing the ball at the disposal of the thrower-in or free-thrower. 1/12/12 Resumption of Play Warning (Rule 4-57) and Delay of Game Warning (Rule 4-17) Warnings: The following provides instruction on when to warn, what type of warning is permitted and when a warning is not permitted or required. 1. Following a timeout: Two types of warnings permitted following a timeout. a. Resumption of play warning (Rule 4-57.2). If, in the official’s judgment, either team is not ready to play at the second horn during a timeout, officials are instructed to formally warn that team on the first offense. This particular warning is a resumption of play warning (Rule 4-57.2) and not a delay of game warning. After having received a resumption of play warning for not being ready to play following a timeout, the resumption-of-play procedure is to be used thereafter for that particular team. There is no technical foul penalty for failing to be ready to play following a resumption of play warning. b. Delay of game warning (Rule 4-17.1.e). When a team fails to have the court ready for play following a timeout such as having chairs or water on the floor, then a delay of game warning is to be issued to that team and an administrative technical foul is to follow on the next similar offense (Rule 10-2.5.b). This is the only delay of game warning permitted following a timeout. Keep in mind that officials are not permitted to issue a delay of game warning for huddling (Rule 4-17.1.d) when teams continue to huddle following a timeout. When the timeout is over and the 5 players huddle again and do not appear to be ready to play, the officials must issue a resumption of play, not a delay of game, warning. 2. Not following a timeout: a. Resumption of play procedure (Rule 4-57.1). In situations that do not follow a timeout when a team is not ready to play on a throw-in or free throw, officials are not required to issue any type of warning. In these situations, officials are instructed to use the resumption of play procedure by placing the ball at the disposal of the free-thrower or thrower-in (Rule 4-57.1). b. Delay of game warning (Rule 4-17.1.d). When, in the official’s judgment, a team is repeatedly delaying the game by preventing the ball from being promptly put into play, such as delaying the administration of a throw-in or free throw by engaging in a team huddle anywhere on the playing court, officials are permitted to issue a delay of game warning for this and then assess an administrative technical foul on the next similar offense. The following interpretation was issued in 2007 and is still applicable today: 11/21/07 Team Delay Interpretation: There are only four occasions when a team warning for delay is permitted (Rule 4-17.1.d through g). A team must be warned for each of these delays before the particular delay can be penalized with a technical foul. Delaying the game by preventing the ball from being promptly put into play, such as delaying the administration of a throw-in or free throw by engaging in a team huddle anywhere on the playing court requires a warning before assessing a technical foul (Rule 4-17.1.d). However, the resumption-of-play procedure (*Rule 4-57) may also be used in this situation. When a team delays a throw-in or free throw by huddling, an official may choose to either warn for this delay or use the resumption-of-play procedure by putting the ball at the disposal of the player. Keep in mind that, although both are permitted by rule at the specified times mentioned above, if an official chooses to warn for delaying a throw-in or free throw by engaging in a team huddle, he/she should be prepared to assess a technical foul the next time that particular delay occurs. (*denotes 2011-13 reference) 1/12/12 Official game clock designation (Rule 1-18) In several recent games, timing at the end of the game or half has led to questions regarding which timing device is to be used, particularly in facilities where a video board, ribbon board or other display shows the game clock. To be sure the proper devices are determined and used, the Men’s and Women’s Basketball Rules Committees are issuing the following interpretation: The game clock shall be the official, visible timepiece on which the time remaining in a period shall be displayed and shall show a 10th-of-a-second display when less than 59.9 seconds remains in a period. The referee, per Rule 2-5.2, shall designate the official game clock. However, when there is a game clock display located on the shot clock it shall be the official game clock.” 1/12/12 Six players on the playing court (Rule 10-2.6) Rule 10-2.6 makes clear that a team is not permitted to have more than five players on the court to participate. Officials cannot penalize this infraction with an administrative technical foul UNTIL the ball becomes live. However, the rule book does not stipulate a time limit within which the officials have to recognize and penalize this technical foul. Therefore, the following interpretation is intended to provide clarity as to when an official is permitted to penalize this infraction: Officials must see that there were 6 players on the court during a live ball or have personal knowledge that this infraction did occur in order to penalize it. Officials are expected to penalize this infraction, whether the ball is live or dead, when the infraction is discovered. Play 1: Team A has six players on the playing court when the ball becomes live with five seconds remaining in the game. A1’s successful field goal attempt is in the air when the time expires ending the game. Immediately after the expiration of time and before the officials have left the playing court, one of the officials observes that Team A had six players on the court when the basket was scored. What is the correct ruling? Ruling 1: The field goal shall count because A6 became a player when the ball became live (Rule 3-4.1.c). However, the game has not ended because the officials still have jurisdiction since they have not left the visual confines of the court. The officials shall award Team B two free throws and the game will continue with an overtime period when both free throws are successful (Rule 2-4.4, 5-7.7. and 10-2.6). Keep in mind that a monitor may not be used to count the number of players on the playing court (Rule 2-13.2). 1/12/12 Flagrant 1 personal foul for elbow contact (Rule 10-1.13) The rule and penalty regarding illegal elbow contact above the shoulders of an opponent from a swinging elbow has not changed. When ILLEGAL elbow contact for a swinging (not excessively swung) elbow occurs above the shoulders of an opponent, a minimum of a flagrant 1 personal foul, formerly called an intentional foul, must be called. There is and never has been an option to assess a common foul when a swinging elbow makes illegal contact above the shoulders of an opponent since this rule went into effect last season. Rule 10-1.13 outlines the types of illegal contact by a swinging elbow. Please see the italicized script following the rule for a clarification of this rule: Rule 10-1.13. Illegal contact caused by the swinging of the elbow(s) that: a. Results from total body movement is a common or flagrant 1 personal foul. This option to call either a common or flagrant 1 personal does not apply to illegal elbow contact that occurs above the shoulders of an opponent. Article ’c’ of this rule addresses the illegal contact above the shoulders only. b. Is excessive per Rule 4-36.7 is a flagrant 2 foul. Any illegal elbow contact that involves excessive swinging per Rule 4-36.7 is a flagrant 2 personal foul. c. Occurs above the shoulders of an opponent is a flagrant 1 or flagrant 2 personal foul. This rule clearly states that the only penalty for illegal elbow contact above the shoulders of an opponent is a minimum of a flagrant 1 personal or a flagrant 2 personal.